Sunday, July 20, 2014

REVIEW: The Arrangement: The Seduction (Kindle Worlds Novella) by Carly Phillips

The Arrangement: The Seduction (Kindle Worlds Novella)The Arrangement: The Seduction by Carly Phillips
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The way Carly Phillips wrote this novella you do not need to have read The Arrangement series by H.M. Ward but you're going to want to when you're done with this. I haven't read it and I want to.

Chloe is a college senior working on her business degree with dreams of becoming a chef. A stupid mistake with her now ex-boyfriend has her already frigid parents even moreso with her and glad to have her move to the dorms for the rest of her senior year. When this happens, she gladly gets a job at a bar/restaurant as a waitress.

Zach is a PI bent on revenge on Chloe's old neighbor, Sean Ferro, for what he did to his sister, but when he starts in on his plan, he doesn't plan on falling for the girl he plans to hurt.

Zach comes to Chloe's aid when a college kid gets rough with her and slashes her tires. He befriends her, gains her trust, and ends up falling in love with her.

Chloe is cautious with men since her ex and the sex tape scandal. When Zach comes to her aid, she still doesn't want to trust him, but finds herself doing so as he becomes her friend and protector and something much more.

When Sean finds out Zach's name, he finds out who Zach really is and goes to him.

When Chloe finds out the truth, does Zach get his revenge? Does she forgive him and move on?

This short novella was enough to get me interested in H.M. Ward's The Arrangement series. A quick read that had seduction, love, action, and heartache. I loved it.

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REVIEW: Dare to Surrender (Invitation to Eden) (Dare to Love Book 3) by Carly Phillips

Dare to Surrender (Dare to Love, #3)Dare to Surrender by Carly Phillips
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’m biased. Carly Phillips could probably just write the alphabet or the phone book and I would read it. Period.

Dare to Surrender is the third in her Dare series. Gabriel Dare is the cousin to Alex and Ian Dare and their siblings whom we’ve met in the previous two installments. Gabe’s got power, influence and money and girls willing to be with him but one eludes him. He sees her attached to her husband at social functions as they run in the same circles and she intrigues him. But all is not what it seems.

Isabelle Masters thought she was marrying someone who loved her. She learned quickly that he was a lying, cheating scumbag and after she discovers his cheating ways, she doesn’t let him talk her back into staying to be his wife and house maid. She gets in her car and drives off.

Getting arrested was not her plan, but as she sits in the police station, handcuffed to the chair, Gabriel comes to her rescue. Her arresting officer is his brother.

Gabe convinces her to let him take her to his place as she has no place else to go. Their coupling is quick and intense and too intense for Isabelle at first. She needs to know she can stand on her own again so she leaves to do just that.

She is an interior designer… Queue three months later and Gabe’s sister has asked for Isabelle to help design the newest nightclub her brother owns. It’s on an Island near the Bermuda Triangle.

Isabelle has missed Gabriel and doesn’t realize just how much until the moment she hears his voice upon arriving on the Island.

Will her insecurities about their relationship and what he wants from her as well as his dominating ways tear them apart for good this time?

This book can be read as a standalone, but I do recommend reading the others in this series. This book is also a little shorter than the others and is part of a series of books supposedly centered around an Island called Eden.

I’ve enjoyed the Dare series and hope everyone else does as well.


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REVIEW: Silent Bite: A Scanguards Wedding (1001 Dark Nights) by Tina Folsom

Silent Bite: A Scanguards Wedding (1001 Dark Nights) (Scanguards, #8.5)Silent Bite: A Scanguards Wedding (1001 Dark Nights) by Tina Folsom
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

If you love the Scanguards Vampire series by Tina Folsom, then you should definitely read this story. It is the follow-up novella to Oliver’s Hunger. In Oliver’s Hunger, we were introduced to Ursula and her special blood. In Silent Bite, we go through the wedding prep with her parents and a former bad guy supposedly reformed who discovers that not all the girls with the special blood have been sent home and that he hasn’t been cured. Add to that, he believes the Scansguards company has screwed him big time.

As with most weddings, the planning doesn’t go smoothly the moment Ursula’s parents arrive. Add to it that Oliver must stay somewhere else for the week and you’ve got one moody vampire and one moody bride to be.
All of the gang is involved in this novella in one way or another and it’s a quick read and great companion to Oliver’s Hunger.

Even though I knew this wasn't a full novel, I just felt like this novella was rushed and that there could have been more mystery and intrigue (like Ursula's father's illness). Regardless, I did enjoy this book.


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REVIEW: Cooper by Harper Sloan

Cooper (Corps Security, #4)Cooper by Harper Sloan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you haven't read the previous books in this series, please do (Especially Beck), because Chelcie and Asher are introduced in previous books and while this is their story, events from Beck play into this book as well.

I was a wreck in Beck because of events that brought Asher Cooper to town, but I didn't know how wrecked I'd be as I read about Chelcie's and Cooper's story and how those events would play into it until I was buried deep into this book.

In other words, especially if you have read Beck, have tissues at the ready because if you're a crier like me... you're going to need them.

We saw Asher Cooper begin his downward spiral in Beck and he was really down there at the beginning of Cooper when he's calling a woman by another's name (Chelcie) and Locke's cat is missing. He comes to realize that the one woman he doesn't deserve or shouldn't want, he wants. When he's around her, things are just better.

Chelsie wants nothing more from Cooper thank a distant friendship, yet she knows she needs to tell him about the secret she's keeping but because of how he's been, she's not sure she should. He has a right to know, but she knows she isn't ready to tell him yet.

Cooper and his Alpha ways and Chelcie and her strength, love, and encouragement help each other with their pasts, their building love, and telling each other their secrets.

At first, Asher is upset, but he comes around and it makes him love Chelcie and bond with her even more.

Will a woman from Cooper's past though, tear that apart?

I admit that because Asher wasn't truly a part of the other books until Beck and that I didn't grow to love him already in the other books, that I had my misgivings about this book and that I wasn't prepared to commit fully to it like I had the other books. I was kinda pissed actually that Coop didn't get his own book. But in a way, he did. To me, this was not only Asher's story, but Coop's story and Coop is very much a part of this book.

Harper not only showed Chelcie's strength and determination from the get go, but she made me root for Asher as he looked for Locke's cat and bega to fight for Chelcie and for a life with her, a family with her.

Having appearances by all the gang, from Sway to Emily (the way Emily showed up was AWESOME) just helped with the closeness of the characters and drew me into the story even more.

I laughed, got angry, cried, and cried some more, but in the end, Harper Sloan soared with this book. It is not a filler before Locke's story. It is the story of two brothers and how one woman made their family stronger and filled with more love than ever.

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Thursday, July 17, 2014

REVIEW: Unbreakable by Abby Reynolds

Unbreakable (Forehead Kisses, #1)Unbreakable by Abby Reynolds
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First and foremost, thank you to Abby Reynolds for asking me to review this story by gifting me with a copy of the book. My apologies that I took so long to put up my review.

From the get go, we learn that something tragic happened in Kiera's past that keeps her living in fear of trust, love, companionship and friendship with one exception. Her cousin, Scotty. She doesn't go anywhere except school without him and even gets him to move in with her.

Scotty moves in and immediately tells her she's going to start getting out again. This is how Liam starts to come into Kiera's world.

Liam has a past he doesn't like to talk about and would much rather fight out his anger that talk about it.

When Liam meets Kiera, despite her initial fear of him, he knows he has to have her in his life and begins to patiently work his way into her life and her into his. He gains her trust and friendship and eventually her love.

When Scotty sees just how close Liam and Kiera are becoming, while he's happy for her and the protective big brother, he lets Liam know she doesn't like fighting. Liam knows he has to tell her and plans to after one last fight.

How does Kiera find out? What happens afterwards? Do they end up together? I'm saying no more. You need to read this. It can be read as a standalone.

I did feel that a few sections moved way too quickly, but otherwise, I loved this book and hope to see a book about Scotty soon.


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Wednesday, July 16, 2014

REVIEW: Seduce Me by Ryan Michele

Seduce Me (Ravage MC, #2)Seduce Me by Ryan Michele
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

First and foremost... if you haven't read Ravage Me (Ravage MC #1), then stop now and go read that book... go on... I'll wait.

Oh, you've read it... good... carry on then.

So in Ravage me, we're first introduced to Casey and G.T. Casey is Harlow's best friend and G.T. is Harlow's brother.

I'm gonna try to give nothing away but please... if you haven't read Ravage Me yet, don't say I didn't warn ya... SPOILER ALERTS MAY BE AHEAD. There, I said it.

So, Seduce me starts off somewhat prior to before Ravage Me ends.

Casey's car is packed and she's heading away to college and to start life somewhere new. Reasons also include G.T. and his womanizing ways and that since her father died, she hasn't felt like a part of the MC family.

G.T. is used to sleeping around, but he was drawn to Casey and they had a wild time together, but he believes Casey deserves better than him and pushes her away.

After she's been away a few weeks, makes a few friends, and goes through something that nearly kills her, Harlow calls her home. (HERE COMES THE SPOILER IF YOU HAVEN'T READ RAVAGE ME --- WHY HAVEN'T YOU READ IT?) While out conducting MC business, the club president is killed and G.T. is seriously wounded and needs to remain in bed.

G.T. is ordered to bed rest and knows that Casey is coming home. When Casey returns, he's determined to win her back and not let her go again. This is his chance to make things right by making her his.

She makes him work for it though and does not tell him her secret at first.

Can her secret and the ongoing trouble that started for the club in Ravage Me, tear them apart or make them stronger? I'm not tellin!

I know I rate most of the books I read as five star. I do so because they entertain me. If I'm entertained, I think the reader has done their job. Did Ryan Michele make me laugh - yes; cry - yes; get angry - yes; sob like a baby - yes; smile like an idiot - yep... well then, the author did their job.

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Tuesday, July 15, 2014

REVIEW: Fall From India Place by Samantha Young

Fall from India Place (On Dublin Street, #4)Fall from India Place by Samantha Young
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Even though I knew this book was about Hannah and Marco, I hoped we'd see the whole crew from the previous three books in this series and we do. She and Jo's brother, Cole, end up becoming best of friends after her heartache.

In high school, Marco protected Hannah from bullies, boys like him, and even himself until they had one night where they finally gave in to their feelings. A family emergency sends Marck back to the states the next day without an explanation to Hannah and leaving her brokenhearted.

Five years later and Marco's back and has been for awhile. Turns out he works in construction for Braden, Hannah's older brother.

Marco wants Hannah back in his life from the moment they see each other. He wants to explain why he left and why he didn't seek her out when he came back. He's no saint and has a secret that he isn't ready to share, afraid for his own reasons of what it would do their budding relationship.

Hannah learned to protect her heart because of Marco leaving. Marco works his way back into her life, and works at keeping their friendship going and building. When things start to progress, she knows she has to come clean about the secret that she's been holding for five years.

Although, for me, this book didn't flow as fast for me, I enjoyed it. Marco is no Braden and I think that was my problem. I compared Marco to Braden and I really shouldn't have.

I still gave this book five stars because I enjoyed the sub-stories that innertwined with Hannah and Marco working to find their way back to each other.

And yes, you really should read the other books, in order, before reading this one. It's worth it.

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Sunday, July 13, 2014

REVIEW: Crashed by K. Bromberg

Crashed (The Driven Trilogy, #3)Crashed by K. Bromberg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Aaahhh, the last book in the trilogy… I had to read this and I did… in one sitting. I needed to know what happened to Colton and if it was the end of he and Riley and what would happen to her boys. I stayed away from spoilers the best I could and settled in.

I loved the build up of Rylee’s and Colton’s relationship in Driven and Crashed because it showed the strengths and weaknesses of them both. The best part of this entire series was seeing a closed off man like Colton was open up his heart to not only Rylee but the boys she takes care of and his soul to Rylee and love her and allow her to love him back.

I haven’t really mentioned the other characters in the book in these reviews because although they make for great story, my focus was on how Colton would change from the beginning of Driven to the end of Crashed and K. Bromberg wrote one helluva trilogy.

I hate that people compared this series to FSoG and the Up In The Air Series because, well, let’s face it, as much as some of us love FSoG… it’s not well written. And you just cannot compare James Cavendish to Colton Donovan. They are both dangerous men in their own rights, but I found much more depth and plot with the story of Colton.

You don’t have to be a racing fan to read this trilogy. Racing is a part of Colton and his life, but his backstory and Rylee’s story are the draw to these books. Racing does play an important part at the end of Fueled and into Crashed though.

This is a series that I know I’ll read again and again and I hope that others will too.


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REVIEW: Fueled by K. Bromberg

Fueled (The Driven Trilogy, #2)Fueled by K. Bromberg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So… how do we start off book 2 in the Driven Trilogy? We get Colton’s POV of the dream he had and why he screamed at Rylee to leave… then we see him in the shower. Completely broken. He didn’t want to chase Rylee away but the dreams… they are the reason he keeps women at arms’ length. He doesn’t believe anyone could ever really understand.

Rylee flees at first, but turns around and comes back and that sets up book two. It is told in both POVs and has more angst, drama, and tension.

We finally get more of a glimpse of Colton’s past in this book. We also get him allowing himself to feel with Rylee while doing what he loves… race. And more interaction with the boys that Rylee takes care of.

All of this leads to another cliff hanger, but not because of their relationship. I thought Driven was a good book, Fueled is even better. Did not take me nearly as long to read because of how invested I had become in Rylee, in Colton, and the boys that Rylee takes care of.


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REVIEW: Driven by K. Bromberg

Driven (The Driven Trilogy, #1)Driven by K. Bromberg
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I didn’t fall in love with Driven because Colton is a race car driver… I fell in love with Driven because of Rylee and her fight for a new home/center for the boys that she oversees, her determination to not be inconsequential to Colton and her strength to want more from him.
Colton is a player… p-l-a-y-e-r… he has a bevy of women and likes it that way. Does not want or need a relationship or anything else from a woman than a good time. Love `em and leave `em.

They’re introduced at a fundraiser when he saves her from a locked closet. The chemistry is there the moment she falls into his arms. But they both have pasts that haunt them. For her it’s the loss of her husband and child, for him it’s a bad childhood that has him swearing off needing or wanting anything more from a woman.

This book… full of tension and angst… while Rylee is trying to move on from her past, Colton won’t let go of his. I have read other books with the similar theme, but this book captured my attention because of how quickly Rylee was established to be a strong woman willing to fight for Colton and what she wants.

I have to admit it took me a while to read this book because I knew it was part of a trilogy and I honestly was tired of cliffhangers and trilogies and alpha-males… but by the end of the book, I was hooked and quite ticked at Colton.

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Wednesday, July 9, 2014

REVIEW: Lovely Trigger by R.K. Lilley

Lovely Trigger (Tristan & Danika, #3)Lovely Trigger by R.K. Lilley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After the way Rock Bottom ended, I just had to dive right in and find out how Danika and Tristan move on and overcome what happened. Would they ever come to terms with what happened? If so would they, could they move on together?

At the beginning of the book, we see them part and go their own ways because when they're together, bad things happen and Danika can't do it anymore.

Six years later and Danika now oversees the Vegas art gallery in the same hotel that Tristan has his own Magician show. Despite Danika's warnings for Tristan to stay away from her, he works at it until she agrees to lunch/dinner. They both work at their friendship even though Tristan admits he's never stopped loving Danika after all their time apart. Danika keeps her feelings to herself for a bit as they deal with other people and their issues.

I admit in book 1 I didn't think Danika was that strong of a character, but as I read each book, she blossomed into one hell of a very strong woman. Tristan? His love for Danika never wavered and he kept up on where she was and how she was doing.

Keep the tissues handy from Book 2 and make sure you have another box or 2 by your side because you'll need them. In the end, the tears are so worth it.

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Friday, July 4, 2014

REVIEW: Rock Bottom by R.K. Lilley

Rock Bottom (Tristan & Danika, #2)Rock Bottom by R.K. Lilley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Let me start this brief review by saying that, in my opinion, you need to read the Up In The Air series and Bad Things (Tristan & Danika, book 1) before reading this book.

Any review I write will not do this book justice.

Told in both POVS, we see how this sweet relationship turns bad over the course of the book and by the end of the book, the shocking ending left me sobbing for quite a bit afterwards and had me believing that this relationship was over for good.

R.K. Lilley had me curious about Tristan and Danika in the Up In The Air series so when I found out that she was writing a series for them, I was happy because I wanted to know what happened between these two and how Danika's injury happened. What I didn't plan on was how dark book 2 became for me. I know it's just a book, but dang it if I don't feel like the characters are family when I invest a few hours into these books just by reading.

I can understand why the title is Rock Bottom.

This story definitely needed to be told and I'm glad that R.K. Lilley told it. I love her imagination.

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REVIEW: Dare To Desire by Carly Phillips

Dare to Desire (Dare to Love, #2)Dare to Desire by Carly Phillips
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I wondered about Alex and his playboy ways in Dare to Love and now we get his story and it's a good one.

So... what do you do when an injury ends your pro football career? You throw away the girl and hide away from life until your half-brother convinces you to come work for them.

There's a catch though. That girl you threw away before, you'll be working on the project with her.

This is book two in the Dare To Love series by Carly Phillips. Alex Dare is the half-brother to Ian Dare, whom we got to know in Dare to Surrender. Anyway...

Alex agrees to go to work for Ian and vows to make things right with Madison, the girl he threw away, by working with her and winning her back.

Madison, the girl, is determined to keep things professional at first. The more time they spend together though, the more she finds herself falling for him and back in his arms.

Once they are back together, will a new job offer for Alex and Madison's foster mother's biological son tear them apart once and for all?

Both Alex and Madison fight through their issues throughout the book and Ian and Riley make an appearance. You can read this as a stand alone book but I highly recommend Dare To Surrender as a read as well.

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REVIEW: Capturing Peace by Molly McAdams

Capturing Peace (Sharing You, #0.5)Capturing Peace by Molly McAdams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When her jerk of a boyfriend leaves her in high school because she wouldn't get an abortion, Reagan immediately learns that men leave. She has the baby (a boy - Parker) and life revolves around him from that moment on. She is a strong, independent woman and the father figure in her son's life is her older brother.

Coen is a friend of her brother's now retired from the Army and pursuing photography full time.

Coen and Reagan's first meeting doesn't go off too hot as they're both headed to lunch with her brother and when she realized her brother set her up, she leaves, furious. Another run in at the park while Parker is playing and the sparks fly even more.

Reagan and Coen come to an understanding at first and decide to just hang out and get to know each other better.

Even though their friendship blossoms, they both must deal with their fears. For Coen, it's his PTSD. For Reagan, it's of Parker's reaction to if the relationship doesn't work and Coen steps out of their lives for good.

When I started this book, I immediately sided with Reagan and saw just how strong and determined that she was. When Coen broke through her walls, I hope that he would let her help him break his own walls down and by the end of the book... I was a blubbering mess.

This was the perfect book to start the Sharing You series.

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Wednesday, July 2, 2014

REVIEW: Play by Kylie Scott

Play (Stage Dive, #2)Play by Kylie Scott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

We met Mal in the first Stage Dive novel (Lick). He befriended Ev in L.A. when things got out of hand with the lawyers the first time and took her to his beach house... anyway... I digress.

Mal's humor from "Lick" comes through even more in this book. But behind his humor is a man in pain. Pain he hides from everyone for as long as he can.

He's at David and Evelyn's place, out on their patio when Anne comes out and takes a call from a friend of hers. She has her own problems. Her roommate moved out without paying her the money she owes her as well as taking most of the furniture and now she's in a bind.

Mal hears her end of the conversation and after some banter, decides she's his girlfriend.

While she's at work the next day, he gets Lauren's help in him moving into Anne's place. States he's her roommate. When she gets home they make a deal. She's his fake girlfriend and he's her roommate.

These two are total opposites. But they click. This fake relationship becomes a friendship and much more for both of them.

I love that Anne never backed down with Mal. She is one strong-willed woman with responsibilities and learns to loosen up a little around him while getting him to open up with her.

I know I fell in love with Mal in "Lick", but in "Play", I became head over heels for him. I need another book focused on him and Anne or just him. I think there is still more story to tell with him, but alas... I'm not the author.

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Tuesday, July 1, 2014

REVIEW: Lick by Kylie Scott

Lick (Stage Dive, #1)Lick by Kylie Scott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Yep, I read this in 2013 and did a quick re-read before Play came out so this review may not be all the best to judge from but hey... I loved this book regardless.

- Go to Vegas to celebrate 21st birthday with best friend - check
- Wake up with one helluva hangover - check
- With no memory of the events of the night before - check
- With one hunk of a man taking care of you - check
- minus his shirt - check
- but with your name tattoo'd on his bod - check
- and his name tattoo'd on your... ruh roh
- With a rock on your finger - with a wha?

That's right babe... Congratulations... You're married to a Rock Star!

Evelyn and her best friend go to Vegas to celebrate her 21st birthday. While out, she meets a guy and they spend the night talking, drinking, and getting tattoos. Next morning, she's sick with the worst hangover and no memory of the night before. This does not make the shirtless hunk happy.

David - Mr. Rock Star - is part of a band called Stage Dive. The girls love him, but Evelyn isn't like other girls.

Evelyn panics from the news that they're married and flies home but what happened in Vegas flew outta Vegas and spread like wildfire before Evelyn woke from her drunken escapades.

From the moment she steps off the plane to go home, it hits her that her life isn't private anymore. They make it home but when David gets word of what they had done was out, he sends his trusty Security guy to her rescue and has him bring Evelyn to him with the promise that they would work out the divorce/annulment over the course of the next few days.

Jealousy on both parts is evident from the moment Evelyn arrives at the house in L.A. to a party.

Only when his bandmate Mal takes Evelyn to his beach house to calm down does David chase after her and takes her to his house that he barely uses.

Why does he barely use it? It was supposed to be the dream house of his and his ex's.

By the way, his ex... her brother's in the band AND she works for said band.

But I digress.

David and Evelyn start to get to know each other while at the his house and overcome a few obstacles and decide to give their relationship a try until Evelyn catches David in what she thinks is a betrayal. That is just the start of of it for David because as she's leaving... the band is falling apart.

What happens next? It was at this point that I knew I needed to keep reading the book because I had to know whether or not they end up together. So I'm not going to tell you. You gotta read it for yourself.

This is a sweet story and is the first book in the Stage Dive series. I read this book in one day because I couldn't put it down. I loved how they fought as hard as they loved and how, they both grew up and took responsibility for their roles and their own lives.

When I finished this book, I knew that I was hooked on this author and could not wait for the next book to come out. I like when that happens.

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